News Above the Noise—Week of May 3, 2026

1. Trump Says the Iran War Is Over. Congress Isn’t Convinced

Trump's letter arrived the same day the War Powers Resolution's 60-day deadline expired. In it, he declared that hostilities beginning February 28 "have terminated"—a claim that effectively sidesteps the need for congressional authorization, even as U.S. forces remain in the region. Congress made no attempt to enforce the deadline. Democrats were quick to reject the president's argument, and several Republican senators said they still want Congress to have a vote. Read more here.

2. Rising Cost of Healthcare Is a Top Concern Among Americans in Several Public Opinion Polls

Without the subsidies, health insurance costs have more than doubled for many Americans. Enrollment is expected to drop by as much as 26% this year, erasing gains made over the last several years. People in their 50s and early 60s, too young for Medicare but no longer able to afford marketplace plans, have been hit the hardest. Read more here.

3. Trump Nominates Third Pick for Surgeon General After Dropping MAHA Favorite

Casey Means's nomination had been stalled for months when the Senate Health Committee raised concerns. Saphier, Trump's third attempt to fill the post, brings mainstream medical credentials and a complicated relationship with the movement she's now expected to champion. Kennedy called her a longtime MAHA warrior. She once called his vaccine advisory overhaul an unproven swing of the pendulum. Read more here.

4. 15 Possible Dementia Symptoms Not to Be Ignored

When it comes to dementia, the signs people worry about most are often not the ones doctors flag first. Neurologists say some of the earliest indicators are easy to dismiss or mistake for something else entirely. Knowing the difference could matter more than you'd think, and catching them early can make a real difference in treatment options. Read more here.